Half Brothers

Chapter 8: The Banquet

~.Black Mist.~

I wake up with Nova by my side for once. I smile. He's still sleeping with those wounds all bandaged and healing. He looks so relaxed. I don't bother to wake him up for now. He's had a hard life; he deserves this rest at least.

I slither out of bed and walk to the dresser, which is a table with a mirror on it. Two drawers are to hold the capes of ours. On a small rack is my headdress and Nova's newly polished headdress. I open my drawer and slip on my cape. I reach the rack and clip on my headdress. I exit the room, heading to the kitchen.

The head chef rushes over to me with a hige grin on his face. "Good morning, my prince!" he exclaims. "I have had a wonderful idea!"

"What is it?" I use my tentacles to lift me up to his level so that I don't have to look up at him.

"What if we throw a banquet for your brother to welcome him home?"

I grin. "And we invite the villagers?"

"Of course! Everyone in the village shall be invited! Otherwise, it would not be a proper celebration!"

The chefs behind him cheer in pure joy. They love it when they get to cook for many, many people. It presents a challenge for them, and they love challenges as all Numbers do!

"Alright! In the meantime, I'll make sure he doesn't go into the dining hall. I'll give him a tour of the village!" I suggest.

He nods. "Good idea. It will be done by dinnertime, so we'll send in the breakfast and lunch to your room so that you do not starve. Please, wait for him there."

I scoff and say jokingly, "You don't tell me what to do!"

The head chef laughs. "I believe we can make an exception here, my prince!"

With a laugh, I set myself down and scurry off back to my room. I'm glad to see that they've fixes Nova's earrings and set them on the table! I sit at my desk and busy myself with reading the books Father left for us. I remember that he used to read them to us when we were just toddlers.

~.Astral/Nova.~

I yawn, stretching and rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I know, I just know, that today's going to be another bad day with Momma, Amber, and Bura.

Then, I feel the soft material under and on top of me. This was never here before. I open my eyes only to see that the room's different. I'm on a black and white bed with a translucent curtain covering the bed from others. Through the curtain, I can see a small and tall figure setting something up. I sit up and open the curtain.

Blackie looks over to me with a smile. "Good morning, sleepy head!" he greets cheerfully.

"Good morning," I say softly, taking in the entire room.

A delicious scent hits my nose. I look over to see them setting two plates on a table by the wall of the room. It smells better than anything Momma ever made. I'm suddenly reluctant to go there when they're done.

Blackie sees this and walks over to me. "Come on, Nova!" he exclaims with a smile, gripping my still-red hands. "No need to be shy!"

"A-are you sure?" I stammer as he leads me to the table.

"Of course! What makes you think you can't? Everyone here wants to make each other happy in any way possible!"

"It's just...Momma never let me have any of this, and I think I've gotten used to just getting the scraps..."

"Oh, now don't think like that! Hey, how about I show you around after we eat?"

I nod and let him lead me to the table, where we sit next to each other. In front of me is a white, thick porridge with brown powder on top of a fragile-looking bowl with blue on the rim. Beside the bowls are spoons with delicate blue designs. Blackie catches me looking at what's in front of me and giggles.